MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (April 5, 2019) – The No. 25 Webber International University baseball team moved the tying run in Quinsly Balentien to third base with two outs in the top of the ninth, but could not get him in as the Warriors dropped their series opener against No. 10 St. Thomas University by a score of 2-1 on Friday at Paul Demie Mainieri Field.

Balentien, who was 0-3 coming into the ninth, did a nice job drawing the leadoff walk on a full-count pitch from the Bobcats' new pitcher Tyler Morales. Balentien then took second base on a wild pitch and moved to third on a groundout by Rougie Odor, bringing up Garrett Martin who unfortunately, flew out to center to end the ballgame.

In addition to stranding Balentien, the Warriors also left the bases loaded in the top of the eighth after an RBI-double to left center with two outs by Willie Carter scored Norberto Navarro all the way from first for the Warriors' first run of the game. Webber then looked to be in business after back-to-back hit by pitches by Quirino Esquivel and Carlo Mancillas to put three runners on, but a swinging strikeout ended the threat.

Despite the lack of offensive production from the Warriors' bat, which saw two hits apiece from Esquivel and Odor, Webber's starting pitcher, Zak Spivy (7-4), did his part to try and keep the Warriors in it.

Spivy pitched what was his six consecutive complete game and seventh complete game of the season overall in 11 starts, allowing only six hits and one walk while striking out four, but it was a two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth for the Bobcats that ended up bringing in the would-be winning run.

St. Thomas' first run of the game came in the first inning on another two-out hit, a triple to center field.

The Bobcats' starting pitcher, Orlando Rodriguez (5-1), like Spivy, allowed only six hits and walked only one; but Rodriguez was also benefited by 10 strikeouts, two of which ended an inning with multiple Warriors in scoring position.  

Rodriguez has now struck out at least 10 batters in each of his last three outings and has struck out nine or more in four straight games.

"Today was a great matchup between two of the top pitchers in The Sun Conference," said Webber's Head Baseball Coach Brad Niethammer. "Unfortunately, we just came up a little short."

With the tough loss, Webber fell to 26-14 overall and went back to .500 in The Sun Conference at 8-8 while St. Thomas reached the 30-win mark and improved to 30-10 and 12-4.

Webber and St. Thomas will play the final two games of their series tomorrow, Saturday, April 6, starting at 12 p.m.